Gmar khativa tova! Welcome to online meeting devoted to Yom Kippur

One of the most important Jewish holidays is approaching - Yom Kippur (Judgment Day) - a day of repentance and fasting, when, according to religious tradition, the entire previous year is summed up and a verdict is issued. Much has been written about the meanings and traditions of this holiday, so today we will talk about only one aspect - the atmosphere that accompanies this holiday in modern Israel.

In order to spend Judgment Day in the spirit of Jewish tradition, it is not necessary to be a religious person. In Israel, where the secular population makes up the majority of the country's citizens, the synagogue is far from the only place where this holiday is held.

In Israel, many secular people jokingly call the Day of Judgment "the day of the cyclist", because on this day, starting from the evening before, the movement of not only public, but also personal motor vehicles is almost completely stopped, and the bridged streets are intended for pedestrians and many children on bicycles. In the evening, when the holiday comes, in Israeli cities you can see many festively dressed people walking in the middle of the road with children and loved ones.

As for the religious observances of the Day of Judgement, in particular the strict fasting of a little over a day, each Israelite decides these matters according to his own views. According to surveys, the majority of the Jewish population of Israel fasts on this day. Someone fasts and at the same time immerses himself in the Internet, while someone, on the contrary, does not turn on electrical appliances, but allows himself a few sips of water and a sandwich. In short, there are as many people as there are options. And yet there is some general concept that unites the entire nation of Israel on Judgment Day. This is the so-called "heshbon nefesh", a moral summing up, when each person analyzes his actions for the past year and gives them an assessment. And regardless of the degree of religiosity, Israelis these days ask for forgiveness from each other, since the meaning of the Slihot, that is, the prayers read in the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is not so much to obtain forgiveness from the Most High, but from loved ones and familiar people

In recent years, the so-called alternative forms of celebrating Jewish holidays, including the Day of Judgment, have become increasingly popular. This gave one of the most important Jewish holidays an additional meaning, connected not so much with religion, but with the history of Israel. Such alternative ceremonies are held in dozens, if not hundreds of places throughout the country, and their organizers are both public structures and private individuals.

Alternative ceremonies on Doomsday are especially popular among secular Telavi residents, and therefore the doors of many public organizations are open in the city on this night, where various events are held, starting from prayers and ending with a lively happening, which includes songs and watching thematic films. And, if the synagogue requires a clear division into male and female parts during prayer, during secular ceremonies participants spend time together - whole families or friendly companies.

On the eve of Judgment Day, night hikes and tours of Jerusalem are especially popular in Israel. Such excursions include participation in the rite of kaparot - atonement for sins, which religious Jews perform after the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This rite symbolizes the transfer of sins from a person to a rooster or hen, which is rotated above the head. Not everyone likes this custom, therefore, when signing up for a night excursion, you can refuse to participate in this ritual in advance.

If you have to go on such a night walk, you will be able to make sure that the Israeli capital is not going to sleep. The city, especially the religious quarters, roars late at night, people of all ages, residents of the local quarters and tourists walk the streets. Many synagogues are opening their doors, where believers go to start reading Slihot after midnight - for the last time before the Day of Judgment. I am crying at the Wall on this evening, which precedes the holy day of Yom Kippur, a real pillar building. People begin to gather closer to midnight, and the crowd does not disperse until the morning, spending time in prayers.

We, Ukrainian Jews, join the Jewish tradition of meeting Yom Kippur and invite our wards to participate in the online programs "Jewish Traditions". You can register to participate in the program and receive a vocation from the project coordinator of online events (kuzmenko@kievhesed.org.ua).

And to every Jew and the all Jewish people, we wish "Gmar Hatima Tova!"

Gmar khativa tova! Welcome to online meeting devoted to Yom Kippur

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